Thank you to my first few reviewers!
Severus sat up when she left. He could feel the stiffness in his neck. He rolled his head and neck making a low groan. He stood up crossing the room with an empty glass in hand in search of the firewhiskey, rubbing the back of his neck as he went.
That bloody girl he thought, not only has she set me on fire she's now been responsible for breaking my nose! He caught himself in the mirror, he was smirking. Ironic really, the most troublesome woman in his life for the last 7 years had been Granger. Also quite pathetic he thought.
Still smirking to himself. The broken nose was worth it though, to catch her out like that. She'd looked like a lamb to the slaughter when trapped underneath him, at one point she positively shook, he had felt it. He was sure that this had bought him at least a month of peace as Granger will be avoiding him and trouble like the plague and that would be priceless.
His smirk soon paled and he couldn't help think about her touching his face, he couldn't really remember it, he had drifted off. Perhaps he had missed some blood when he showered, who knows. Anyway it was irrelevant.
Hermione reached her dorm and headed straight for the shower, she needed to bathe and to sober up. She didn't know what hurt more, her head, where her neck had snapped back and hit the wooden doors. Or was it her back, when he'd reached out for her, she had received the blunt force of him which pushed her flatly into the wood. It could have even been her wrist, looking down, letting the water flow over it she could see a clear green tinge forming the shape of 4 fingers across the inside of her wrist above her palm. It pulsed.
No she thought, neither of those hurt the most, it was her pride. Not only had she got it wrong in the meeting, she'd drunkenly confronted the headmaster and basically been responsible for him breaking his nose. Just great she thought, what an idiot.
The next morning, Friday, Hermione skipped breakfast. Her embarrassment was too raw and she knew he'd be there. Thankfully Snape no longer taught so she suspected she could go until supper before seeing him. The lump on her head had formed and produced a dull thud all day, she daren't visit Madam Pomfrey, she couldn't face explaining.
One of the benefits of being a senior was the mixed common room where seniors from all houses could gather and hang out. Ron had invited Hermione earlier in the day to come and watch an inter-house wizard chess tournament. According to Ron, Leo was likely to be a strong player and a good sparring partner for Ron. The game would surely provide plenty of entertainment for the crowd.
Before dinner they all changed out of their robes and into muggle clothes, one of the things that had changed over the summer for Hermione was the way she dressed. Shopping in London with guidance from her very London friends had given her a new look. No more boyish jeans and cardigans, and tonight was the first night her fellow students would see it however.
She had learnt more control over her hair, she embraced its messiness, she flipped her head over, gathered it at the top of her head and twisted. She secured it with a tie. She pulled some random bits down over her face. The messy bun was a very London look.
She pulled on tight indigo jeans, and an equally tight white shirt. The midnight blue against the crisp white made for a striking contrast. She popped her feet into some grey pumps. A slick of mascara, coral blush and gloss and she was ready.
As she approached the great hall, she heard a wolf whistle from the shadows, she paused and out bounded Ron. "Wowszer Hermione" he said in a very keen fashion. "Thank you Ron!" said Hermione rather flamboyantly. She tucked her arm in his and they walked into the great hall, it was a bit late and most students had left by now to make the most of Friday free time.
"Oh golly, doesn't Miss Granger and Mr Weasley look quite the couple" said Minerva. "Oh yes, they do, Hermione certainly has grown into her looks" said Poppy Pomfrey. Bloody unlikely thought Snape, nobody could grow into that electric shock of a mane. Without even looking up he said "for her to be interested in Weasley she must have had a bump on the head" in a rather dismissive and sarcastic tone knowing that is precisely what had happened. The women didn't respond. Only then did he look up and his eyes narrowed, a bump to the head indeed he thought, she did look very different. Very muggle he noticed.
He finished his supper and strided out of the great hall, his eyes glancing in the direction of the remaining students, as he billowed past the Gryffindor table, he noticed a slim hand reach for a glass and could clearly see a very purple wrist. He slowed and turned to the trio and their friends.
"Miss Granger, would you mind seeing me in 10 minutes in my office? I have some head girl business to discuss it won't take long". Snape said very matter of fact, he wasn't asking he was telling. Before she could reply he was off.
Harry "what's that about!? It's free Friday! Can't he wait to see you on Monday!" Sounding rather annoyed. "Yeah, what's so important" said Ron. "Who knows, maybe problem with the rota" said Hermione. She genuinely didn't have a clue but she could hazard a guess it might have something to do with her getting drunk, stomping into his office and having a tantrum.
He had given her the 10 minutes for his own benefit, of course she would have a bruise! Why didn't he think of that. He didn't know his own strength which is why she had hit her head in the first place, of course he'd have grabbed her with force. Far too much force than needed to remove a teenage girls hand from his face. Fool he thought. He was angry at himself and needed to calm down, he headed to his potions store for a remedy. He took longer than he thought, the healing remedy he was looking for had been moved from its original place.
20 minutes later he arrived in his office corridor, he could see her in the dim candle light, she was sitting on the floor outside his office, her knees tucked up and her head leading back against the wall. She didn't hear him approaching, until he was stood right in front of her and said dryly "don't get up on my account Miss Granger" she jumped out of her skin, and cracked her head yet again. He winced on her behalf. She didn't see his reaction, she was too busy groaning and scrambling to her feet as Snape flicked open the doors.
Once inside he handed her a black bottle. "For the bruise on your wrist" he said as he turned back to his desk. "Thank you, but it's fine it doesn't hurt" she said. "I don't care if it hurts Granger, all I care about is that you don't have a very obvious bruise from the grasp of a tight hand around your wrist on show to the world" he spat. "Oh" she said, realisation dawning on her. "Indeed" he said slowly. "How's the nose?" She said. "Fine, thank you" not looking up from his parchment. "If anything it looks a little smaller" he remarked.
Did Snape just make a joke she thought.
He looked up, and smirked at her. Yes he did she thought. She let out a snort.
"And the head?" He said, laying down his quill.
"Like there is a JCB demolishing my brain" she said somewhat pained.
"Impossible Granger, you don't have a brain to demolish, you proved that last night and again this evening" he said with a smirk. She scowled at him. His eyes were dark.
Mustering her bravest voice and straightening herself "You're right, your nose does look smaller, you should be thanking me" she said as she turned to leave.
Good girl he thought to himself, she does have a sense of humour after all.
"Granger..."
She froze.
"Don't let the door hit you on the head on the way out" he said dryly.
She headed downstairs via the prefect bathroom she knew it would be empty as everyone would be at the chess match. She uncorked the potion, it smelt of vanilla. She looked at the bruise, it was rather large she hadn't really paid much attention but she could clearly see where Snape's fingers had been wrapped around her. Judging by the bruise his hands must be huge she thought.
She rubbed it into her wrist and the back of her head - where she had a lump upon a lump. It tingled as she watched the bruise fade, she felt somewhat disappointed. Was that why she hadn't tried to conceal it, because she had liked it being there?
She joined the match, it was Ron verses Leo. Apparently they were playing best of 5, butterbeers were being passed around and Hermione politely declined. The gryffindors were supporting Ron obviously but Leo had quite a mixed fan group mainly slytherin with female Hufflepuff and ravenclaw's. Unsurprising Hermione thought, he was very handsome.
There was one chair, on the slytherin side not too far from Leo. Hermione took her seat. "Mione! What are you doing, don't support him, come and cheer for me!" Said Ron as he pondered over his next move. "I'm not supporting him I'm just sitting down Ron!" Said a defiant Hermione. Leo looked at her and made a sad face, she mouthed 'sorry' and gave an apologetic smile.
The game turned more raucous, the noise grew. They were on their final match both boys had each one two games. Hermione had given in and was on her third butterbeer and she had turned her support to Leo who was entertaining the crowd with his flamboyant French curses and turn of phrases. Both boys wherein good spirits despite the fierce competition, probably something to do with the five butterbeers Hermione thought.
Before the final match Leo had got down on one knee and offered Hermione his slytherin scarf as a battle souvenir, which Hermione graciously accepted and draped it around her knew. It smelt of Leo, and reminded her of Ryan. She knew he was doing this to rile Ron and distract him, she only hoped it wouldn't work as she really did want Ron to win.
The game ended and Ron had won, Leo was gracious in his defeat. Hailing Ron the king of chess, which Ron relishing in! It was midnight and they knew they had 15 minutes to get back to their own common rooms.
Leo approached Hermione, she assumed in search of his scarf. She was just about to remove it when he said in a very French accent, "walk with me?" He lead Hermione out of the communal common room and headed for the long way back to Gryffindor tower.
It wasn't long before small talk turned into kissing, Hermione had missed London life and Leo was just as good as Ryan possibly better. She had initiated it, he seemed quite shocked. No doubt he'd been told about the old Hermione.
He had a way of caressing her tongue with his, she pulled him round the corner into a dark alcove. Little did she know she had just pulled them into someone's sight.
Straining to see, Snape could see the French boy drooling quite literally over some girl, he couldn't make out who but could see the emerald of her slytherin scarf.
The boy doesn't waste much time he thought. He wasn't one to disrupt that kind of fun, he wasn't that much of a boring bat. He waited for a moment hoping they would cool it off in their own time.
He watched as the slytherin girl, who was clearly rather forward in her advances on the boy. She had pulled the French boy towards her, and she found her back against the wall, Snape couldn't see her face, all he could see was her dragging her hands down his back.
The wall touched her tender head and she groaned into Leo's mouth. It was the groan that sent Leo clearly into ravishing mode.
Snape rolled his eyes, silly boy he thought and loudly paced over to the pair. They hadn't noticed, the boy was too engrossed and the girl was far too concerned with keeping the boys attention.
"Ahem" coughed Snape.